General: School age groups to be streamlined

The Education Ministry is focusing its attention in changing the age levels for schools sports to be brought into same international level age groups to be effected from January 1, 2017. 

Sports activities conducted by the Ministry of Education from 1985 in team events was in the age groups of Under-15, 17, 18,19 and 21. 

Track and Field events were conducted in the age groups of under 16, 18 and 20. 

In addition Schools Sports Associations conducted their tournaments in the age groups of under 14, 15, 17, 19 and 21. 

The main aim of the ministry is to bring our age limits in respective sporting events in par with the international age limits that varies from one sport to another. 

The difference of the local age limits is bound to create differences in selecting teams for international events as international age limits are different from local age limits. 

As a lot of problems erupted on the age limits in the selections for Under-19 World Cricket Cup and the Under-20 Rugby World Cup, on the opinions of 95 per cent of the public as appeared in the local media, the Ministry of Education had focused its attention in changing the present age groups said Sunil Jayaweera, Special Consultant Sports, Ministry of Education. 

A special discussion was held on June 17 among the Provincial Physical Education Directors in Colombo to educate the decision to be taken and the report will be submitted to the Minister of Education Akila Viraj Kariyawasam for a final decision.